Vacuum cleaning head utilizing multiple suction cavities



March 19, 1957 c. L. ROCKWELL "VACUUM CLEANING HEAD UTILIZING MULTIPLE SUCTION CAVITIES 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1953 1/.5/\/ 7-57? CHAUNCEY L. ROCKWELL 4 7-727 NEYE March 19, 1957 c. L. ROCKWELL VACUUM CLEANING HEAD UTILIZING MULTIPLE SUCTION CAVITIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Filed June 9, 1953 z/5/\/ TU/F CHAUNCEY L. ROCKWELL nited States Fatent Ofiice zgsauz Patented Mar. 19, 1957 VACUUM CLEANING HEAD UTILIZRNG MULTIPLE SUCTION CAVITIES Chauncey L. Rockwell, Portland, @reg.

Application June 9, 1953, Serial No. 369,433

7 Claims. (Cl. 15375) This invention relates to improved vacuum cleaning tools, and more particularly to a suction head adapted for use with a portable vacuum cleaner.

in order to loosen litter and dirt from the nap and body of a rug or other article to be cleaned, vacuum suction heads usually employ rotary brushes or a stationary stifit' bristled brush. The bristles of these brushes engage the surface of the rug and rake the litter into the air stream passing under the edges of the head and make it possible for the air stream to carry it into the dust receptacle. Whether or not this brush is stationary or revolvable, the action of the bristles on the rug is destructive and considerably shortens the life of the rug. In vacuum cleaner heads relying solely on the air suction or force of the vacuum system to clean a rug, a large percentage of the litter will not be lifted from the nap of the rug, and over a period of time the nap finally becomes packed with various formsof litter and dirt so that it is difiicult to remove any dirt from the body of the rug because air will not pass freely therethrough. A shortcoming of conventional vacuum suction heads of the type having auxiliary air inlet means is that incoming air drawn into the head through the auxiliary inlets must first impinge down- Wardly againstthe surface of the rug before it is drawn into an outlet passageway. Such air currents strike the surface of the rug in a nearly vertical direction with considerable force and tend to drive the dirt into the web of the rug and sufiicient air is not drawn up through the rug to loosen the dirt so that it will be carried away by the air stream.

A primary object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a vacuum cleaning head which more elfectively dislodges and picks up dirt and litter from the surface, as well as the web, of a rug or the like to be cleaned, without employing stationary or revolving brushes which are apt to damage the surface or reduce the life of the nap or fabric.

Another object is to provide a vacuum cleaning head which has means to direct auxiliary streams of air in oblique directions relative to the surface to be cleaned to exert maximum cleaning forces on the nap or fabric to be cleaned.

Another object is to provide low pressure areas in the path of incoming air streams to hold temporarily a quantity of litter or the like and then subsequently release said litter in the air stream.

Further objects are to provide a vacuum cleaning head that is inexpensive to manufacture, sturdy in construction and light in weight.

Other objects are to be found in the details of construction of the various parts of the device, in their relationship, and in the mode of operation of the device as will hereinafter be fully described.

The present vacuum suction head, in general, comprises a body having an attaching boss for connection to a vacuum motor by means of a flexible hose. A pair of air Stream deflector rods, adjustably mounted on the front and rear edges of the suction head, have a plurality of longitudinal diametrical slots which serve as auxiliary intake orifices for air entering the vacuum suction head. Also mounted on the head and between the air stream deflector rods is a pair of rods of smaller diameter hav a plurality of cone-shaped depressions or cavities therein, h. red to as vacuum rods. The open ends or me cat/"mes provide voids or gaps in the surface of the vacuum rods with small lands therebetween which engage the surface of the rug, as do also the air stream deflector rods when the suction head is in use. The vacuum rods are also adiustably mounted on the head, and for maximum efiiciency in loosening and picking up dirt and the like, the air stream deflector rods are positioned so that the slots tierein direct the air streams at oblique angles to the horizontal to impinge against the vacuum rods somewhat near the horizontal diameter of said rods. Tncoming air moving under high velocity through the inlet slots and across the bottom of the vacuum rods creates low pressure areas in the cone-shaped cavities to pick up litter and dirt during a rug cleaning operation, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. Furthermore, the inlet means for the incoming air may be adjustable, as stated, and can be set to direct the air into the head at the most effective angles to accomplish the maximum cleaning action.

A modification of the invention employs a pulsating air stream to assist in loosening litter and dirt from the rug, this is accomplished by a pair of rotors mounted in the vacuum suction head. These rotors are provided with a pair of angular, diametrically aligned apertures adapted to communicate with an odd number of air intake holes in the head, so that when air is passing through the head the rotors rotate at high speed. As the rotors rotate and alternately uncover and cover the holes in the head, the air stream through the head becomes pulsating and aids in dislod ging dirt particles from the rug.

The invention will be better understood and additional advantages will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the two forms of the device. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may take other forms, and that all such modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims which will occur to persons skilled in the art are included in the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum suction head embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the head showing in particular the arrangement of the air stream deflector rods and the vacuum rods;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the head, taken on the line 3*3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view, greatly enlarged, showing a portion of the vacuum rods and the cavities therein;

Figure 7 is asectional view showing a modification wherein air stream deflector means are cast as an integral part of the suction head;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional View of a modified form of the invention employing a rotor mechanism for imparting a pulsating air stream through the head;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an elevation view of a rotor, removed from the suction head; and

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 8.

greases Referring to Figures 1 through 6, the invention resides in a vacuum suction head comprising a body portion 15 having an attachment boss 16 to receive a hose or tube connection 17, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, from a vacuum motor, not shown. The present head is thus shown as used with a tank type vacuum cleaner, but it is to be understood that the head may be used on other types of cleaners such as the upright type cleaner, and, further, may be used on other type equipment. Attachment boss 16 has an interior passageway 23, Figure 3, communicating with a central chamber 21 which in turn communicates with lateral channels 22 and 23. The head terminates at its ends in a pair of downwardly extending end walls 25 and 26, and the longitudinal edges 28 of said head, Figure 5, are curved to receive a pair of air stream deflector rods 30 and 31 which form outer walls for the head. These rods seat snugly in the respective curved edges to form an airtight seal therebetween, and are held firmly in place by screws 32, Figure 4, passing through the end walls 25 and 26 and threaded in the ends of the rods. The deflector rods are thus removable, as well as adjustably mounted between the end walls, and are provided with a plurality of diametral slots 34, Figure 5, which termimate in restricted slits 35 interiorly of the head. The slots 34 serve as auxiliary air intake orifices for a portion of the air that passes through the head and may be directed at any desired angle to the horizontal by rotating the rods 30 and 31 relative to the body 15.

Also mounted between the end walls 25 and 26 is a pair of vacuum rods 37 and 38 forming inner walls, which rods, similarly to the rods 33 and 31, are mounted between the ends walls 25 and 26 and are held in adjustable rotative position by a pair of screws 39. As best seen in Figure 5, these rods abut against a portion of the bottom wall of the body 15 and form an air-tight joint therewith. Marginal chambers 49 and 41 are formed between the rods 30 and 37 and the rods 31 and 38, respectively. Air entering the head is drawn through passageway 42 formed between the two vacuum rods 37 and 38 and from thence by way of channels 22 and 23 into the central chamber 21 and so through hose connection 17 to the tank. The passageway 42 is a primary suction chamber and the marginal chambers 43 and 41 are secondary chambers.

As best seen in Figures 2, and 6, the under surfaces of rods 37 and 38 are provided with conical depressions or cavities 43 set edge to edge in staggered relation to cover approximately 180 degrees of the circumference of the rods. The conical depressions or cavities are separated by small lands 44, Figure 6, which maintain the round contour of the rod. These lands provide the sole points of contact between the rods 37 and 38 and the rug. The mouths of the cavities form recesses or voids 45 in the surface of the rods which provide for air passage under the rods when the vacuum head is in operation.

The conical depressions or voids 43 provide for a low pressure area between the rods 37, 38 and the surface to be cleaned. The air within the nap of the rug will expand into this low pressure area and in doing so will carry the litter from the upstanding nap into the depressions or voids 43, thereby giving the rods 37, 38 a mechanical grip on the litter. It is this mechanical fixation and the movement of the suction head over the rug that causes the litter to be removed from the nap. It

-will be apparent that since this low pressure area is also an area of high velocity air the litter will be swept into the air stream entering under the rods and be carried into the filtering system of the cleaner. The air stream deflector rods 39 and 31 are preferably adjusted so that the diametral slots 34 therein direct incoming air in a direction to impinge against the rods 37 and 38 some- -what near the horizontal diameter of said rods. Air

4 under suction entering through the slots 34 passes under the rods 37 and 33 and into the head.

Due to a pressure difierence between inlet passage 42 and the atmosphere, there will be a high velocity air stream passing between the rods 37 and 38 and the nap of the rug. The air in this stream, as well as the air being drawn through slots 34, is at a much higher velocity than any air contained in the pile or nap of the rug traveling in the direction of inlet 42. The movement of the air in the nap of the rug is in an upward direction into the low pressure area caused by the high velocity air stream hereinbefore mentioned. This upward flowing current of air lifts the dust particles into the high speed air stream.

When the head, in sliding over the rug, comes in contact with litter such as kapok or other similar fibrous material, the material is first leveled off by the bottom surface of the leading deflector rod 30 or 31, depending on the direction of travel of the head. As the head proceeds, rod 37 or 38 comes in contact with the litter and begins sliding over it. At this point the air coming through the slots 34 and slits 35 in the rods 30 and 31 is drawn over the top of the litter, and, since this air is traveling at a higher speed than the air coming through the rug on the underside of the litter, there will be a partial vacuum created in the cavities on the under surface of rods 37 and 38. This causes the litter to be lifted into the vacuum cups or cavities just long enough so that the depressed surface of the cavity tends to carry the litter along with the rod. In doing this, the leading edge of the litter is folded back over its other parts and starts to form into a roll, and, at the same time, pulls the tentacle-like fibers from the nap of the rug and forms a roll that is large enough to present a sizeable broad side area to the air stream, thereby finishing the operation of pulling the litter loose from the nap and allowing it to be drawn into the air stream. In the event the roll of litter has not been completely loosened or entirely rolled up on the first pass, the same operation is performed by the opposite rod 37 or 38, as the case may be, and on the succeeding strokes of the suction head over the rug the roll will soon become large enough and sufiiciently torn from the nap to be lifted from the rug. Of course, if the litter is of small particles of cloth, thread, or bits of solid material, it is immediately loosened from the rug and drawn into the air stream. It will be seen that the above operation imparts mechanical means for dislodging stubborn litter or dirt from the nap of the rug without exposing the rug to destructive abrasion as when a stiff bristled brush is used.

Another important feature of the present vacuum head is the location of the air inlet slots 34 and slits 35 and the angular adjustment of the rods 30 and 31 to obtain the most effective inclination of the slits. As hereinbefore stated, the rods 30 and 31 are preferably adjusted so that the main stream of air coming through the slots is directed against the vacuum rods somewhat near the horizontal diameter of these rods. The high velocity air stream thus sweeps across the bottom surface of the vacuum rods, and does not impinge against the surface of the rug at an angle which would tend to push litter or dirt farther into the rug.

The purpose of the slots 34 in rods 30 and 31 is not to direct an air stream against the rug and so blow the litter from the nap, but rather to direct an air stream against the vacuum rods 37 and 33 at a definite angle so as to create a streamlined flow of air under these rods. The apertures in rods 33 and 31 are so adjusted that the air stream strikes rods 37 and 38 somewhat near its horizontal diameter, thus preventing the conical depressions from interfering with the smooth flow of air under the rods.

Figure 7 illustrates a modified form of the head. In this embodiment the head is cast with deflector means 30' and 31 as an integral part thereof. As in the first embodiment, incoming air is preferably directed at the horizontal diameter of the rods, and the slits 35 are oriented accordingly in the integral deflector means 30' and 31'. This embodiment employs vacuum rods 37 and 38 having cone-shaped apertures similar to the first embodiment.

The modified form of the invention shown in Figures 8-11 comprises a head having a body portion 15 and an attachment boss 16 to be connected to a hose from the vacuum motor. The suction head has an interior passageway 20, and lateral channels 5t) and 51. Channels 50 and 51 also communicate with circular recesses 52 and 53 by means of channels 54 and 55. The recesses 52 and 53 have cover plates 56 and 57, respectively, each having therein an odd number of apertures 58, Figure 9, and being held in place by screws 59. The apertures 58 are uniformly spaced in a circular arrangement so as not to be diametrically aligned. Recesses 52 and 53 serve as housings for rotors 61 and 62, respectively, and each of the rotors is carried on a spindle 63 that revolves in lower bearings 64- and upper bearings 65 mounted in the cover plates.

Each of the rotors 61 and 62 preferably has a pair of angular slots 68, although more slots may be provided if desired. The upper ends of slots 68 are diametrically opposite, as shown in Figure 9. The odd number of intake apertures 58 and their spacing in the cover plates 56 and 57 insures that the angular slots 68 in the rotors will fully communicate with only one aperture 58 at a time, thus admitting an air stream alternately to opposite sides of the rotor to cause said rotor to rotate at a high speed as long as a vacuum is maintained in the system.

As seen in Figure 11, the head is provided with a pair of air stream deflector rods 30" and 31" having slots 34" therein whichterminate in restricted slits 35". A pair of vacuum rods 37 and 38" having rows of cone-shaped depressions or cavities 43" are also provided. In this em bodiment, air traveling through the head enters continuously through the nap of the rung, continuously through the slots 34 and 35", and intermittently through the apertures 58 in the cover plates 56 and 57. Due to the angularity of slots 68 in the rotors 61 and 62, the incoming air impinges against one side Wall of the slots and the rotors rotate at high speed, covering and uncovering the apertures 58. The intermittent air streams through the rotors cause the entire .air stream through the head to pulsate strongly, creating gusts of air which are more effective than a steady flow for dislodging and holding in suspension small particles of dirt and dust until such material reaches its destination in the dust container (not shown).

Thus the various embodiments hereinabove described accomplish a better cleaning action on rugs and the like without the use of the usual brushes or heaters which so rapidly destroy the nap.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A vacuum suction head for cleaning rugs and the like comprising outer walls adapted to engage a flat surface of an article to be cleaned, inner walls spaced from said outer walls and having rounded under surfaces adapted to engage said fiat surface, cavities in said rounded under surfaces of said inner walls, said inner walls defining a central chamber and said outer walls enclosing marginal chambers between said outer and inner walls, a suction connection in said head communicating with said central chamber, and air inlet passageways through said outer walls inclined at oblique angles to said flat surface and directed toward said inner walls in a plane above said rounded under surfaces to furnish air to sweep across said cavities and create low pressure zones therein for lifting and removing dust and litter from said surface.

2. A vacuum suction head for cleaning rugs and the like comprising outer walls adapted to engage a fiat surface of an article to be cleaned, inner walls spaced from said outer walls and having rounded under surfaces adapted to engage said flat surface, cone-shaped cavities in said rounded under surfaces of said inner walls, said inner walls defining a centrally located primary suction chamber and said outer walls enclosing marginally located secondary suction chambers between said outer and inner walls, a suction connection in said head communicating with said primary suction chamber, and air inlet passageways through said outer walls inclined at oblique angles to said fiat surface and directed toward said inner walls in a plane immediately above said rounded under surfaces to furnish air to sweep across said cone-shaped cavities and create low pressure zones therein for lifting and removing dust and litter from said surface.

3. A vacuum suction head for cleaning rugs and the like comprising outer walls adapted to engage a flat surface of an article to be cleaned, inner walls spaced from said outer walls and having rounded under surfaces adapted to engage said flat surface, cone-shaped cavities in said rounded under surfaces of said inner walls, said inner walls defining a centrally located primary suction chamber and said outer walls enclosing marginally located secondary suction chambers between said outer and inner walls, a suction connection in said head communicating with said primary suction chamber, air inlet passageways through said outer walls inclined at oblique angles to said flat surface and directed against said rounded surfaces of said inner walls to direct air streams across said cone-shaped cavities and create low pressure zones therein for lifting and removing dust and litter from said surface, and means for admitting pulsating streams of air into said primary suction chamber.

4. A vacuum suction head for cleaning rugs and the like comprising outer walls adapted to engage a fiat surface of an article to be cleaned, inner walls spaced from said outer walls and having rounded under surfaces adapted to engage said flat surface, cone-shaped cavities in said rounded under surfaces of said inner walls, said inner walls defining a centrally located primary suction chamber and said outer walls enclosing marginally located secondary suction chambers between said outer and inner walls, a suction connection in said head communicating with said primary suction chamber, air inlet passageways through said outer Walls inclined at oblique angles to said fiat surface and directed toward said inner walls in a plane above said rounded under surfaces to furnish air to sweep across said cone-shaped cavities and create low pressure zones therein for lifting and removing dust and litter from said surface, an air inlet opening in said head communicating with said primary suction chamber, a turbine rotor communicating with said opening, and valve means in said rotor adapted to pulsate the air flow through said inlet.

5. A vacuum suction head comprising a suction pipe connection, a pair of cylindrical vacuum rods spaced from each other and defining a primary suction chamber therebetween communicating with said suction pipe connection, a plurality of cone-shaped cavities in the under surfaces of said rods, a pair of air stream deflector rods defining the side walls of the suction head on opposite sides of said pair of vacuum rods, and slots in said deflector rods directed toward approximately the plane of the horizontal diameter of said vacuum rods to furnish air to sweep across the openings of said cavities and create low pressure areas in said cavities to assist in picking up litter and the like during a cleaning operation.

6. A vacuum suction head comprising a suction pipe connection, a pair of cylindrical vacuum rods on said head and spaced from each other to provide a primary suction chamber therebetween communicating with said suction pipe connection, a plurality of cone-shaped cavities in the under surfaces of said rods, a pair of rotatably adjustable air stream deflector rods mounted on opposite sides of said head and on opposite sides of said pair of vacuum rods, and diametrical slots in said deflector rods directed toward said v-acu-um rods, said deflector rods being rotatably adjusted relative to said head to direct said diametral slots at approximately the horizontal diameter of said vacuum rods to furnish air to sweep across the openings of said cavities and create low pressure areas in said cavities to assist in picking up and holding litter and the like during a cleaning operation.

7. A vacuum cleaner suction head for cleaning rugs and the like, said head comprising a top and oppositely disposed side and end portions, a pair of identical Wall forming members extending from one said end portion to the other and of uniform cross section throughout and cooperating with the undersur face of said top to form therewith a suction chamber, a suction connection communicating with said chamber, said wall forming members having rounded bottoms, each wall forming member provided with identical separated depressions extending lengthwise thereof in parallel rows with the depressions of adjacent rows arranged in staggered relation, the side portions of the head being formed to provide inlet means intermediate the top and bottom portions thereof for the passage of all of t e air entering the head in a direction transverse to said side walls and means to increase the velocity of such entering air and direct the same against the adjacent surfaces of the wall forming members along restricted areas thereof intermediate the rounded bottoms and tops of said members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 789,768 Sullivan May 16, 1905 1,742,810 Hosking Ian. 7, 1930 2,029,668 McCardle Feb. 4, 1936 2,031,957 Karlstrom Feb. 25, 1936 2,051,203 Dow Aug. 18, 1936 2,227,299 Cranmer Dec. 31, 1940 2,283,428 Ellis May 19, 1942 2,377,778 Hallock June 5, 1945 2,482,166 Gage Sept. 20, 1949 2,641,015 Lovick June 9, 1953 2,659,099 Ott Nov. 17, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 86,762 Sweden July 7, 1936 249,346 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1948 743,683 France Jan. 16, 1933 

